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IRVINE — Los Alamitos’ softball team came about as close as possible to losing to JSerra in the bottom of the seventh inning of a dramatic CIF-SS Division 2 championship game Friday.
The Griffins escaped with a defensive play for the ages, and secured their reward a few innings later.
Cienna Kowaleski hit a two-run home run to highlight a three-run 10th inning and freshman Jaliane Brooks pitched a complete game as Los Alamitos defeated JSerra 3-0 at Deanna Manning Stadium.
The Griffins (21-12) forced extra innings in the bottom of the seventh when shortstop Kalie Matsuno threw out the potential winning run at the plate for the final out off a relay from the outfield.
“Things can happen in a split second and the tide can turn at any time,” said Los Alamitos coach Rob Weil, who won his seventh section title to tie Norco’s Rick Robinson for most by a section softball coach.
“I thought that was a huge momentum breaker for (JSerra) and a huge momentum (boost) for us getting that play at the plate.”
In its first section final, JSerra (19-14) found a spark in the seventh with a two-out single by No. 9 hitter and freshman Ava Van Heerde. Leadoff batter Brooke Stephens, one of the Lions’ two senior starters, then drove a ball into the gap in left center.
Los Alamitos defense sprung into action. Center fielder Alivia Magallanes raced to the ball and threw to Matsuno. The Florida-committed senior fired the relay to New Mexico-bound catcher Allysen Pitcox, who applied the tag in a close play.
“I just knew I had to get the ball out as quick as I can,” Matsuno said of the throw. “We practice this every day at practice. … I knew we could do it. We all trust each other so much to where we just had to play for each other.”
Said Pitcox of the tag, “I was very confident. I knew I had her.”
Alivia Magallanes, Los Alamitos’ No. 9 hitter, opened the 10th with an infield single against JSerra ace Liliana Escobar. With one out, the Griffins snapped the scoreless tie with Matsuno driving a ball to the gap in right center. The Lions’ throw to third base got away to allow Magallanes (3 for 4) to score from first base.
One batter later, the Santa Clara-bound Kowaleski launched an opposite-field home run to left to make it 3-0.
“I went hunting my last at-bat and I wasn’t doing that my at-bats before,” Kowaleski said.
The runs were Los Alamitos’ first in 16 innings against Escobar, who pitched a six-inning shutout against the Griffins earlier in the season.
Brooks quickly retired JSerra in the bottom of the 10th to complete the longest outing of her young career.
What a game! Los Al beats JSerra 3-0 in 10! pic.twitter.com/Dap7tqBF2d
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) May 31, 2025
“I knew what was at stake,” said Brooks, who scattered nine hits and struck out five. “I knew I had to lock in. Get the job done”
Weil said of Brooks, “She’s got ice in her veins. She hits spots. She’s not afraid to go right at batters. … (One) of the most well-composed freshman I’ve coached.”
Escobar, a junior, allowed nine hits and struck out 16.
“She’s a competitor and she’s been our go-to all season,” JSerra coach Katie Stith said of Escobar. “We’ve really battled and we played very, very well. … But I think it matters when you’ve played in this environment and play in championship environments. It’s a big difference.”
Los Alamitos started the season 1-7 but ended with their first title since 2017.
“You got work through adversity,” Weil said. “They came into their own and worked their (butts) off.”
